Outreach, Service, Community

Bereavement Ministry

The Bereavement Ministry works with a family immediately after the death of a loved one, helping to plan the liturgy for the funeral Mass. This personal contact helps to ease the anxiety felt at a time of grief. The family is encouraged to take an active part in celebrating the life of the deceased as readers and gift bearers. Members assist as cantors, altar servers, lectors and Eucharistic Ministers. Annually, the names of the deceased are read during a Mass of Remembrance.

Bridge Over Troubled Waters - Sacred Heart

Sacred Heart’s involvement with Bridge Over Troubled Waters began in fall 2009, when Bridge was looking for individuals or groups to “adopt a room” in the Bridge houses for homeless teens and young adults. Some participants in the ARISE small faith-sharing group committed themselves to this. With financial support from other members of the parish, the group finished that initial project in spring 2010. They then refurnished the room for a new resident in summer 2011. Sacred Heart provided new sheets, comforters/blankets, and matching towels for all seven bedrooms in the moms’ house. Currently Bridge notifies us when new residents move in and Sacred Heart provides new linens and towels.

Christian Service Committee - Our Lady's

Welcome to the Christian Service Committee! Who are we? We're the Advent Tree, Valentine, Easter Egg & Baby Shower people! We organize events that, thanks to the generosity of our parishioners, have yielded thousands of Christmas, Valentine's, and baby gifts over the years. Your generosity has provided thousands of meals, desserts, pieces of fruit, snacks, & bottled water for shelter guests. Organizations benefitted include the Women’s Unit at Pine Street Inn, Shattuck Shelter in Jamaica Plain, Mass Coalition for the Homeless, Genesis II, African Global Village, Hand of Help Orphanage in Mexico, Nazareth Residence, Pregnancy Help, VinFen, Bethany House, and parishioners here at Our Lady’s. All are welcome to help! Whether you are an organizer, a hands-on server, or a silent and steady contributor, we are happy to have you on board!

Angela Siciliano - 617-332-7036

Christmas Gift Drive - Sacred Heart

Sacred Heart provides annual holiday support for St. Ambrose Family Inn, Julie’s Family Learning Program, New England Home for Deaf, and Walden School at the Learning Center for the Deaf. Cards listing specific needs are available in late November, and then gifts are returned at the parish Advent Party in early December for distribution to agencies.

Honduras Committee - Collaborative

Our Lady's has a sister parish in San Marcos, Honduras. Our group develops ways for our community to serve the needs of the people of San Marcos. They also focus on developing a relationship between the two parishes so that we can learn from one another in solidarity.

Hospitality Committee - Sacred Heart

The Hospitality Committeecoordinates several programs and activities within the parish community, such as welcome baskets, care and concern program, Advent Party, Easter Vigil Party, First Communion reception, and other special events that may arise.

Justice and Peace Committee - Collaborative

The Justice and Peace Committee of Sacred Heart and Our Lady's strives to put the social teachings of the Catholic faith into practice. Our goal is to be in solidarity with all people who suffer the loss of human dignity, as together we build peace and justice in our world.

The Robert DeSimone Social Justice Forum, whose membership is not limited to the parishioners of our collaborative, is primarily an educational function. Through Social Justice Forums, information and perspectives on important social issues are shared.

Inspired by Pope Francis and moved by the plight of the 21.3 million registered refugees worldwide, the Justice and Peace Committee spearheads the collaborative’s refugee resettlement efforts in collaboration with Catholic Charities.

Ministers of Care

This ministry involves visiting people - in nursing homes, hospitals, and private homes within our parish - who are unable to receive the Eucharist at Mass. The Minister of Care spends approximately one to two hours a week, bi-monthly or monthly, whatever your time allows, visiting these parishioners. Ministers of Care serve as vital pastoral connections between the parish community and the sick and the homebound. Ministers of Care bring the spiritual and healing comfort of the Lord, and, themselves, receive personal spiritual enrichment. Training and support are provided.

Mother Caroline Academy - Sacred Heart

Our parish-wide project to provide Mother Caroline Academy students and teachers with school supplies runs in September. For two weekends, baskets are placed at church entrances for donations. Since the Academy is totally privately funded, they depend on material and financial donations from individuals, churches, and organizations.

Outreach to You – Sacred Heart

Outreach to you sends a cheerful greeting card and note to parishioners who find it difficult to attend Mass regularly because they are home bound or in a care facility. We want them to know that they are in our thoughts and prayers. All parishioners from both parishes are welcome to participate in this ministry. If you know of any parishioner who would appreciate being remembered in such a way, let us know.

Prayer Shawl Ministry - Sacred Heart

The prayer shawl ministry is an outreach program which aims to bring comfort to those who are ill or confined to home by giving them a handcrafted shawl made by parishioners. Members of the prayer shawl ministry meet monthly in homes to pray for healing and comfort as they knit or crochet the individual shawls. Some members of the ministry create shawls in their own homes as they themselves are unable to get out.

The shawls are delivered to individuals at home, in the hospital, at rehabilitation facilities, or in nursing homes as the need arises. Each shawl is chosen with the recipient in mind and is tagged with the name of the individual crafter and accompanied by a prayer.

Pregnancy Help - Sacred Heart

This ministry provides material support to mothers needing help as childbirth approaches through clothing drives in October and May.

Claudia Perdomo - 617-244-7529

Prison Ministry - Our Lady's

This group seeks to bring the face of hope and compassion to the men and women who are in our prisons. We work with chaplains from our area prisons to understand the needs that exist. Parishoners visit prisoners while they are in prison and provide guidance and support to those recently released as they make the difficult transition to a new life in their communities. Others participate in religious services at the prisons or help run programs for parents and children, book groups, support groups, etc. We remember and pray always for healing and forgiveness for those who have been victims of crime.

Society of Saint Vincent de Paul

The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVDP) is an international Catholic organization of lay persons with conferences at both Sacred Heart and Our Lady’s. The mission of these groups is to help those in need throughout the Greater Newton community, primarily assisting with shelter, food and clothing. The group also organizes food and clothing drives and assists the parish with Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving meal drives. Are you interested in helping those in our community who are most in need? Do you or someone you know need help? Please contact St. Vincent de Paul.

St. Francis House - Sacred Heart

St. Francis House provides programs for poor and homeless people in downtown Boston. The parish sponsors food collections and delivery to the shelter on a monthly basis. Other items such as clothing are collected seasonally.

Sunday Morning Hospitality - Our Lady's

On many Sunday mornings after the 10:00am Mass, all are invited to the Lower Church Hall for coffee, donuts, and juice. Volunteers are needed to host each week. For a small amount of time and a little effort, one can enjoy the satisfaction of contributing to an important ministry that connects people and builds relationships.

Welcoming Committee - Our Lady's

The mission of this ministry is to welcome new members into our parish community and encourage them to become active members of the parish. Our committee periodically hosts new member receptions in order to provide newcomers with information about our parish and its ministries. In addition, we hope to provide opportunities for new people to meet our pastoral staff and other members of the parish. New committee members are always welcome to join us.